Lighting system with reduced physioneural compression and associate methods

Abstract

A system for generating light with reduced physioneural compression. The system includes a first light source operable to emit light within a first wavelength range corresponding to a first photoreceptor and a second light source operable to emit light within a second wavelength range corresponding to a second photoreceptor. The system includes a controller functionally coupled to each of the first light source and the second light source. The controller is configured to alternately operate one of the first light source and the second light source with a duty cycle that is less than a response time of the visual cortex, but greater than a response time of physioneural cells, optionally including a latency between operation of light sources. The system may further include a third light source corresponding to a third photoreceptor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for generating light with reduced physioneural compression comprising:
 a first light source operable to emit light within a first wavelength range corresponding to a first color; 
 a second light source operable to emit light within a second wavelength range corresponding to a second color; and 
 a controller functionally coupled to each of the first light source and the second light source; 
 wherein the controller is configured to alternately operate each of the first and second light sources with a duty cycle within an operational period within the range from 2 milliseconds to 20 milliseconds; and 
 wherein the controller is configured to include a latency period between operation of the first and second light sources. 
 
     
     
       2. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the first light source and the second light source comprise a pair of opponent colors selected from the group consisting of a red and green opponent pair and a yellow and blue opponent pair. 
     
     
       3. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the latency period is greater than or approximately equal to 50 nanoseconds. 
     
     
       4. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the light emitted by the first light source and the second light source is perceivable by an observer as a combined light having a perceived brightness; and wherein the controller is configured to control the perceived brightness of the combined light by modifying an emission sequence of the first and second light sources. 
     
     
       5. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to control the perceived brightness of the combined light by at least one of reducing the period of operation of at least one of the first light source and the second light source and increasing a latency period between operation of the first and second light sources. 
     
     
       6. A lighting system according to  claim 1  wherein the perceived brightness of the system is approximately equal to: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 B 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             1 
                             3 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         .6 
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         L 
                         0.6 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   3 
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
         where B is perceived brightness and L is luminance. 
       
     
     
       7. A system for generating light with reduced physioneural compression comprising:
 a first light source configured to emit light that generates a response primarily in long cone cells; 
 a second light source configured to emit light that generates a response primarily in medium cone cells; 
 a third light source configured to emit light that generates a response primarily in short cone cells; and 
 a controller functionally coupled to each of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source; 
 wherein the controller is configured to alternately operate at least two of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source; 
 wherein the controller is configured to alternately operate the light sources to emit light for a period within an operational period within the range from 2 milliseconds to 20 milliseconds; and 
 wherein the controller is configured to include a latency period between operation of at least two of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source. 
 
     
     
       8. A system according to  claim 7  wherein the latency period is greater than or approximately equal to a 50 nanoseconds. 
     
     
       9. A system according to  claim 7  wherein the first light source is configured to emit light having a generally red color; wherein the second light source is configured to emit light having a generally green color; and wherein the third light source is configured to emit light having a generally blue color. 
     
     
       10. A system according to  claim 9  wherein the controller is configured to alternately operate each of the first light source and the second light source to produce a combined light that is approximately purple in color; wherein the controller is configured to alternately operate each of the first light source and the third light source to generate a combined light that is approximately yellow in color; and wherein the controller is configured to alternately operate the second light source and the third light source to generate a combined light that is approximately light blue in color. 
     
     
       11. A system according to  claim 9  wherein the controller is configured to sequentially operate the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source to generate a white light; and wherein the period operating the sequence of the first light source, followed by the second light source, followed by the third light source is within the operational period range. 
     
     
       12. A system according to  claim 11  wherein the controller is configured to operate the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source for independently variable periods of time; wherein the controller is configured to operate at least one of the first light source and the second light source for a greater period of time than the third light source to generate a combined light having a color temperature less than about 6000 Kelvin; and wherein the controller is configured to operate the third light source for a greater period of time than the first light source to generate a combined light having a color temperature greater than about 6000 Kelvin. 
     
     
       13. A method of emitting light having reduced physioneural compression using a lighting system comprising a first light source configured to emit light that generates a response primarily in long cone cells, a second light source configured to emit light that generates a response primarily in medium cone cells, a third light source configured to emit light that generates a response primarily in short cone cells, and a controller functionally coupled to each of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source, the method comprising the steps of:
 operating one of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source for a first period; 
 not operating either of the first light source and the second light source for a latency period between the first period and the second period; and 
 operating one of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source that is a color opponent of the light source operated during the first period for a second period; 
 wherein the time elapsed during the sum of the first period and the second period is less than 20 milliseconds; and 
 wherein the time elapsed during each of the first period and the second period is greater than 2 milliseconds. 
 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 13  wherein the time elapsed during the sum of the first period, the second period, and the latency period is less than 20 milliseconds; and wherein the time elapsed during each of the first period and the second period is greater than 2 milliseconds. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 13  wherein the latency period is greater than or approximately equal to 50 nanoseconds. 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 13  further comprising the step of operating one of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source that was not operated during either of the first period and the second period for a third period; wherein the time elapsed during the sum of the first period, the second period, and the third period is less than 20 milliseconds; and wherein each of the first period, the second period, and the third period is greater than 2 milliseconds. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 16  further comprising the steps of:
 not operating any of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source for a first latency period between the first period and the second period; and 
 not operating any of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source for a second latency period between the second period and the third period; 
 wherein the time elapsed during the sum of the first period, the second period, the third period, the first latency period, and the second latency period is less than 20 milliseconds; and 
 wherein the first period, the second period, and the third period are each greater than 2 milliseconds. 
 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 17  wherein each of the first latency period and the second latency period are greater than or approximately equal to 50 nanoseconds.